Dermatological instrument.



G. E. HAGKETT. DBRMATOLOGIICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1910,

1,084,007, Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

WITNESSES: gKENTOR BY A LQ MM is ATTORNEYS \ULUMI'IA PLANOURAPH 60.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

GEORGE E. HACKETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DERMATOLOGICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed November 30, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HACKETT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dermatological Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to dermatological instruments, and particularly to instruments of the type known as comedo-extractors such are are particularly designed for removing pus, and sebaceous matter from comedones and other forms of acne papules or papulopustules.

The objects of my invention are to simplify and reduce the expense of manufacture of instruments of this character, to provide a device which in the use thereof will not injure the flesh, and to so construct the same that they shall operate with equal efficiency upon pustules and comedones ranging from the smallest to the largest sizes ordinarily encountered.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features of construction which I will now particularly describe, having reference to the accompanying drawings in which an embodiment of my invention is illustrated, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the instrument. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an extended view of a strip or blank from which the instrument is constructed. Fig. 1- is a cross-sectional view of the same upon the line 33 Fig. 1.

The instrument as a whole comprises a medial portion 5 which may be termed the handle, and two end portions 6 and 7 which constitute the operating elements.

The general form of each of these operating elements is similar, in that they curve horizontally with respect to the instrument as a whole; the curves in both cases radially decrease toward the extremities of the ele ments. The elements are of rounded cross sectional form, and the diameter thereof decreases toward their extremities all as will be well understood by reference to the drawings. They differ, however, in that the ele ment 7 is single in form while the element 6 is double, that is to say, the element 6 com- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Serial No. 594,933.

prises in effect two portions similar to the part '7, arranged oppositely and with their extremities meeting at an apex 8. More over, the element 6 is preferably curved laterally with respect to the instrument as a whole as clearly appears in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The instrument as a whole may be conveniently constructed from a strip of wire of the form shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the strip being rounded in cross section, of gradually reduced cross sectional area toward the opposite extremities 9 and 10, and of reduced cross sectional area at an intermediate portion 11. To form the instrument the wire is bent backward upon itself at the part 11, the portions 12 and 13 being properly curved to the required loop like form shown in Fig. l. The extremity 10 is then wound around the body portion 13 at a point therein between the intermediate reduced port-ion 11 and the opposite extremity 9, as appears at 14 in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the extremity 9 is curved to the required form and shape.

In use the instrument is grasped by the handle portion 5, and one or other of the elements 6 or 7 is applied to the flesh in close proximity to the acne or comedo to be operated upon. In ordinary cases the element 6 is employed as it is the more ellicient in its action. Its form, shape and size is such that it may be caused to substantially embrace the acne or comedo, being applied to the conical wall thereof. The base of the instrument should rest substantially upon the base of the acne or comedo cone, the inner side surfaces resting upon the conical walls. Pressure is then applied and the instrument drawn along, with the result that the sebaceous material, pus, or other matter is readily squeezed out. The form and shape of the element is such as to render it equally applicable to acnes or comedones of various sizes, and the rounded cross-sectional contour of the material of which the element is constructed, prevents injury to the flesln The increase of diameter of the material toward the handle part moreover gives sufiicient strength to the instrument to permit of the required pressure being applied, it being understood that the pressure required in many cases is quite considerable and presents surfaces to the conical wall of the acne or comedo cone, of different shapes suitable for varying conditions met. Furthermore the varying diameter of the end of the instru'- ment enables the operator to remove con secutively the smaller and then the larger pustules at a single stroke, as these secretions come in groups localized as to size.

The element 7 is provided for use in such cases where readyaccess can be had to one side only of the acne or comedo. For instance comedones or black-heads as they are commonly called, often occur upon the face where the exterior of the nostril meets the cheek, and in such case the nostril prevents ready access to both sides of the papule. In such and similar cases the element 7 may be applied to such side as can be reached.

In referring herein to the different parts of the instrument as the handle and the operating elements, it will be understood that such terms are used in their relative sense only,actually the construction of the instrument as shown is such that the parts merge the one into the other. Moreover when one or other of the operating elements is being employed as such the entire remaining part of the instrument substantially con stitutes and may be used as, the handle.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A dermatological instrument of the class described composed of a strip of metallic wire, one extremity and an intermediate portion thereof being of reduced diameter, the said wire strip being formed with a loop beginning at the reduced intermediate portion and one extremity thereof being aflixed to the body of the wire at a part thereof be tween the reduced extremity and said intermediate portion.

2. A dermatological instrument of the class described, composed of a strip of metallic wire, the extremities and an intermediate portion thereof being of reduced diameter, the said Wire strip being formed with a loop beginning at the reduced intermediate portion, and one extremity thereof being wound around the body of the wire at apart there- I of between the other extremity and the said intermediate port-ion.

GEORGE E. HAOKETT.

\Vitnesses D. HO\VARD HAYWOOD, LYMAN S. ANDREWS, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

